Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Muslim | /ˈmʊslɪm/ /mʊsˈliːm/ |
masculine |
| Moslem | /ˈmɔslɛm/ | common, masculine |
| Mohammedaner | dated, masculine | |
| Moslemin | common | |
| Mohammedanerin | dated, feminine | |
| Muselmanin | archaic, feminine |
The terms in this pack are used to refer to a believer of Islam. The adjective muslimisch can be used when you want to say something is relating to believers of Islam.
Which one should you use?
Muslim is the standard, modern and most respectful way to refer to a follower of Islam in German. Moslem is a common alternative spelling, but it is often perceived as slightly more dated than Muslim. Mohammedaner is considered an outdated and often offensive term in modern German, as it implies a follower of Muhammad rather than a follower of Islam.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer specifically to a female Muslim, use the feminine form Muslimin. The plural form for 'Muslim' is Muslime.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmʊslɪm/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using Mohammedaner or Muselmanin as they are outdated or archaic. Instead, use the modern and respectful Muslim.
Did you know?
- The term Mohammedaner is avoided today because it suggests that believers worship the prophet Muhammad rather than God.
- While English speakers use 'Muslim' as both a noun and an adjective, in German, you must use the adjective muslimisch to describe things related to the faith, rather than using the noun itself.
- Because Muslim is a noun in German, it must always be capitalized, regardless of where it appears in a sentence.
Examples in context
- Ich bin ein Moslem.I am a Muslim.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of Moslem in a positive identity statement.Tatoeba #1002003 by Esperantostern, translation #789910 by sestersparrow
- Er ist kein Moslem.He is not Muslim.This sentence is useful for practicing the negation of Moslem.Tatoeba #12447873 by Waldelfe, translation #8247719 by Amastan
- Er ist kein Muslim.He's not a Muslim.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of the standard form Muslim in a negative statement.Tatoeba #12447874 by Waldelfe, translation #8420733 by Amastan
- Ich habe einige muslimische Freunde.I have some Muslim friends
- Die muslimische Gemeinschaft ist hier sehr aktiv.The Muslim community is very active here.
- Das muslimische Fest Ramadan beginnt morgen.The Muslim festival of Ramadan starts tomorrow.
- 97 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Julia are discussing a colleague's dietary preferences.
- MaximilianIst er Muslim?Is he a Muslim?
- JuliaJa, er ist Muslim.Yes, he is a Muslim.
- MaximilianDeshalb isst er kein Schweinefleisch.That is why he doesn't eat pork.
- JuliaDas macht Sinn.That makes sense.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “muslim” translations and entries Muslim, Moslem, Mohammedaner, Moslemin, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
